Review of Something the Lord Made (2004) by Katie J — 05 Jan 2011

I've been breezing through Alan Rickman's filmography lately, but this movie has surprised me: I focused not on Alan, but instead on Mos Def.

Sheer brilliance came from both of them. Dr. Alfred Blalock and his assistant Vivien Thomas pioneered cardiac surgery, and this is an indescribably heartfelt rendition of their relationship, dramatized or not. Their work on shock and "blue babies" is incredibly inspiring, hence the over 1,750,000 heart surgeries performed per year in the US.

But seeing Alan Rickman and Mos Def personify these people was especially excellent for another reason: I love seeing Alan play a tolerant (yet hot-tempered) person, because he does it so well, especially with that hostile-sounding, drawling voice of his. And Mos Def, whom I originally knew as Left Ear from The Italian Job, has just become an esteemed actor in my eyes.

This is one of the films I've seen Alan specifically have gray hair. That was kind of new.

I would definitely recommend this, esPECially to anyone interested in medicine. There are bits and pieces that can teach you quite a bit even if you're only half-listening. I was impressed.

8.6/10. I quite enjoyed it.